This is the Year of the Tiger and I got my tiger themed new year namagashi from Toraya again, same as last year. It is called Sachi Tora (幸とら), or Happy Tiger. Like last year's ox, this delightful design is quite abstract and uses cinnamon to create both flavor and fragrance but moreover a novel visual effect.
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Sakura Mochi (Kansai-style) 関西風桜餅
In Kyoto, this year's sakura blossoms have begun to fade and fall, pavements are covered in pink petals and streams are covered with them to the extent that the water cannot be seen. The sakura season is not over for foodies though, we may still feast on sakura themed yummies for another few weeks. This is sakura ...
Chazuke with Leftover Yakizakana
Sprinkle some chopped leftover grilled fish on rice, pour on some hot tea and you've got chazuke, a quick meal that has been eaten in Japan for more than 1,000 years.
Wagashi: Suetomi Kyoto Tea Ceremony Namagashi
The finest wagashi for the tea ceremony are sweets for the mind, the motifs come from classical poetry and painting.
Wagashi: Chadango and Minazuki (茶だんご みなづき)
Minazuki is an early summer wagashi that from centuries ago commoners ate on the day that royals ate -- ice.
